Poker Strategy
Understanding Your Table Image In Poker
2007-11-12 00:29:32
How you perceive yourself does not truly matter at the poker table. What does matter is how other people perceive you and believe me; they are labeling you with every move you make. Since poker deals with actual money, people play differently. No matter how people are playing and acting, they want to win. However, this does not stop people from having fun at the table. While some people are completely serious at the table and they will not join in discussions or speak of hands, other people are just out to have a good time. They want to drink, laugh, talk, play and - hopefully - win at the same time.
Table Image in Live Games vs. Online
In a live game, your table image is broadcasted as soon as you pull out the chair you are about to sit in at the table. People's eyes are on you from the minute you sit down. They want to size you up and down and see what you are bringing to the table. Some people believe they can tell what kind of poker player you are based partially on the way you are dressed in addition to your personality. Table image definitely comes more into play when you are playing your opponents rather than playing your or their cards.
When you play online, your opponents have to size you up from the way you bet your hands, and how many hands you play. Once players have labeled you as a conservative, an aggressive or an unpredictable player - you are somewhat stuck with that image. However, you can use this to your advantage by changing your betting strategy on occasion without them catching on too fast, as they already have an image of you planted into their minds.
As with everything, image truly means nothing or everything, depending on the person you are talking to. The image you portray is simply to let your opponents believe what you want them to believe. How you play and handle yourself at the table gives an impression; people make judgments based on your actions and, yes, you may want them to do this.
The Impacts of Tilt
One of the most difficult images to get out of is being on tilt. Your opponents will know when you are on tilt. Usually, it happens after a big hand that you have lost. People make the mistake at this point of changing their strategy completely, usually erratically. This is so noticeable to other players that they will call almost everything you play because they know you are simply trying to get back into the game and it is rare, at that time, that you actually have the cards to accomplish this goal. When you lose a big hand, try not to give off this impression.
